MANHATTAN — In fewer than two minutes, Angel Rodriguez proved he’s just the man to run the motion.

After foul trouble had him shelved for the first half, Rodriguez returned after the intermission and breathed life into what had been a stagnant offense, leading the way in Kansas State’s 85-52 victory Friday over North Dakota.

“To start that second half, either you break that spirit — which we did — partially because of Angel, making a few shots and getting a few steals,” said coach Bruce Weber, victorious in his regular-season debut at K-State.

“(Angel) got us going. Between he, (Martavious Irving) and Will (Spradling), we got pretty good guard play.”

Rodriguez, a sophomore point guard, scored the Wildcats’ first eight points of the second half after playing only four minutes in the opening period because he picked up two quick fouls.

First, he stepped back and knocked down an open 3-pointer. Then another, all nylon. And after the sophomore slashed to the rim and laid in a contested finger roll off the glass, the Wildcats were off and running.

“I barely played in the first half,” said Rodriguez, who posted 13 points, 2 assists and 2 steals in only 15 minutes. “I usually play with a lot of energy, but I knew this time I had to come out with the most energy I ever had. My legs were fresh.”

With Rodriguez back in the game, the ball zipped around the perimeter a bit quicker. The offense was fluid, not rigid. Instinctive, not scripted. Accordingly, K-State’s 36-27 halftime lead quickly ballooned to 44-31.

The Cats made 53 percent of their field goals in the second half, a marked improvement from their 35 percent mark in the first half.

“They were out of their flow with their floor general off the floor,” North Dakota coach Brian Jones said. “I think that really sparked them.”

“I think we took better shots,” Weber added. “We adjusted to their defense. They were packed in (in the first half).”

The fighting North Dakotans — currently without a true nickname because of a legal dispute with the NCAA over the “Fighting Sioux” moniker — proved a tenacious, scrappy bunch early on.

K-State struggled to prevent Troy Huff (12 points) and UND’s shifty crop of guards from driving the lane, and as a result, relented a slew of easy buckets. North Dakota outscored K-State 16-12 in the paint in the first half.

With Rodriguez out, Spradling, Irving and Rodney McGruder were the Cats’ primary ball-handlers. That format found sparse success, though. Too often the “motion” was absent from Weber’s trademark offense.

Not so once Rodriguez returned.

“As all teams, you go as your guards go,” Weber said.

As the Wildcats swung the ball around and generated easy baskets, North Dakota tried — and failed — to keep up the pace.